What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

As a result of extensive studies, we have successfully received the ISO 37301 Compliance Management System certificate from a foreign audit company. We are the first company in Türkiye to achieve this certificate. This certification entails the end-to-end establishment of a compliance management system, preparation of training, internal communication, formulation of policies and procedures, senior management ownership, monitoring of the compliance function by the board of directors, and effective and sustainable maintenance of these requirements.

Secondly, a platform for managing employee personal data preferences has been launched. Given the organisation’s large size and dispersed structure, using printed documents for the clarification and obtaining open consent regarding personal data resulted in paper wastage.

To address this issue, the process has been moved to a digital environment and integrated with our HR application. Employees now receive clarification and explicit consent texts through this application and via email, allowing them to review and approve these texts at any time as well as change their preferences as needed. Since all transactions are logged, generating reports is easy. This initiative has been nominated for Sabancı Holding’s Golden Collar Award due to its contribution to the company’s digitalisation and sustainability goals. Notably, there is no other example of this application in Turkey.

Furthermore, a compliance chatbot is currently being designed. This initiative aims to facilitate employee adaptation, address their inquiries more effectively, and increase overall awareness. In the second phase, the application will be opened to suppliers and third parties.

What strategic priorities are guiding you and your team in 2024?

Our strategic priorities encompass several key areas. Firstly, we are committed to the renewal of our ISO 37301 certification, strengthening our compliance function. Alongside this, we are focused on integrating technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, internet of things, and nature-friendly technologies into our business processes. We ensure that these done in accordance with legal and compliance frameworks, shaping the company’s mission, vision, and ethical values.

Additionally, we provide compliance support to processes conducted by international banks, particularly in areas concerning environmental sustainability, social responsibility, human rights, and sustainability. By doing so, we play an active role in ensuring that financial support obtained benefits both our company and Türkiye.

Finally, we are planning to apply for the ISO/IEC 42001:2023 Information Technology Artificial Intelligence Management System.

Do you have a cause, business-related or otherwise, that you are passionate about?

I am a board member and legal commission member at the Artificial Intelligence Policy Association. Additionally, I serve as a trademark and patent attorney. My work involves combining my expertise in personal data protection, ethics, human rights, and intellectual property with the field of artificial intelligence. In parallel with my expertise in digital law, I also participate in working groups of platforms like Blockchain Turkey, supporting them in the preparation of reports and policy documents.

Most recently, I participated in the Informatics Law Council workshop, supported by the Presidential Digital Transformation Office and organised by the Turkish Informatics Foundation. Currently, I am involved in a working group tasked with presenting suggestions for Turkey’s Informatics strategies to the Presidency. Furthermore, I serve as a mentor in ACC Europe, Sabancı Vakfı (Tomorrow is Possible with You, Young Women Building Their Future), and Enerjisa (YODA mentorship) programmes. Although I am an internal trainer within my company, I also provide legal training to institutions and organisations upon request.

Additionally, I hold an internal audit certificate in ISO 9001, ISO 10002, and ISO 14001 standards, and I serve as the chief auditor for internal audits within the company. Furthermore, I actively participate in projects led by international financial institutions within our company, focusing on taxonomy, supply chain, sustainability, human rights, and environmental and social impact, from a compliance perspective.